COMMEMORATING PUDEMO DAY – 8 JULY 2014 On the sixth July nineteen eighty three a group a of selfless Swazis met on the banks of Mbuluzi river to found a movement that has lead and continues to lead the Swazi struggle to establish a pluralistic democracy that upholds human rights and abides by the rule of law. Founded in the midst of a feuding aristocracy where only the royal Dlamini clan was sold as the people with the right to rule, its task seemed impossible and its existence an equivalent to taboo in a country where political parties have been banned by an absolute monarch, who enjoyed a cult of personality and was viewed as God’s representative, and his predecessor still continues to enjoy demigod status, albeit to a much lesser degree because, through political activism many have awoken from their slumber. In hunger for self-determination and with a vision that Swaziland should once again be a multiparty democracy, - as was the case from independence from the British in 1968 until 1973 - the founders of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) defied intensely entrenched dictatorial barriers and an aristocracy authored culture, and in a place where all was black and white, they arose from the banks of the river and spoke of a world of colour. Thirty one years later, on the sixth of July 2014, PUDEMO held a Cadre Assembly to commemorate PUDEMO DAY outside of the country due to the repressive atmosphere and clampdown on dissent that continues to prevail in Swaziland. In reaffirming the relevance of the vision of the founders, throngs of Swazis of all walks of life descended upon the venue in song and dance. Both young and old, rural and auburn descended in South Africa in response to the call made by PUDEMO that it is Swazis themselves that must be their own liberators. Once again the people of Swaziland have shown their confidence in PUDEMO by responding in numbers in the excess of 3000 determined fine Swazis. In spite of the Suppression of Terrorism Act that has seen many PUDEMO members beaten, tortured, arbitrarily arrested, locked behind bars without trial and some even killed, the people of Swaziland continue to persevere. The Cadres Assembly reaffirmed that Swazis are resolute in demanding self-determination and the right to be citizens and not subjects, regardless if such should come at the cost of enduring excruciating pain or even death at the hands of the better remunerated security forces. The Cadre Assembly reaffirmed PUDEMO’s support for political prisoners and prisoners of conscious, regardless of affiliation. It remembered and reaffirmed its support for its incarcerated President Mario Masuku, who is behind bars after he was arrested for criticising the governing Tinkhundla system on worker’s day 2014. It remembered SWAYOCO’s Secretary Maxwell Dlamini who is behind bars for criticising the governing Tinkhundla system on workers 2014. It remembered Human Rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and Nation magazine editor Bheki Makhubu who are behind bars for writing articles which were critical of Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi, and whose trial has dragged for over hundred days while they languish in prison. It remembered Zonke Dlamini who is serving 15 years in prison whose sentencing shocked many due to the quality of the evidence presented in court. It remembered Amos Mbedzi who is serving 85 years in prison, who too was sentenced on unconvincing evidence. It remembered Ronald Rudd whose trial has dragged on from May 2012 when he was arrested for allegedly shooting at soldiers. The Assembly also remembered PUDEMO cadres who have passed on because of natural causes and those that have been killed by the regime’s security forces including Sipho Jele. The main message was about the rebirth and renewal of PUDEMO and that the operational plans that PUDEMO Cadres, University professors, organic intellectuals and experts of different disciplines have been tirelessly working on, have begun to be rolled out. A clarion call was made to all Swazis that as the decade of liberation begins, Swazis must stand up in numbers to call for their liberation and PUDEMO is ready, as it has always been, to lead the struggle. Issued by: Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Contact: Brian Ntshangase (Spokesperson) Phone: +27 81 091 2364 : +268 785 23 678 Email: ntshangase.b@hotmail
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 07:39:56 +0000